Garment



A. LEU

Nov. 27, 1962 GARMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31. 1960 INVENTOR.

Antoinette Leu fi-Bau Nov. 27, 1962 A. LEU 3,065,471

GARMENT Filed May 31, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Antoinette Leu B Y VW United States Patent ()fitice.

3,065,471 a Patented Nov. 27, 1962 GARMENT Antoinette Le'u, 1116NE. th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Filed May 31, 1960, Ser. No. 32,857 2 Claims. (Cl. 2-74) It is an object of the invention to provide a garment I which will be attractive in appearance; which can be worn in a number of ways to secure difierent efI'ects according to the desires of the individual wearer, and which can be economically manufactured.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a skirt-like garment having its upper end or edge terminating above the bust line and its lower end above the knees, and which can be worn in free-flowing style as a loose type of garment conducive to cool wear, and which can also be supported by shoulder straps; contracted about the waist or used in various ways. The invention further contemplates the provision of bust pockets for containing pads.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown- FIG. 1 is an elevational view as seen from the rear and with a portion fragmentarily shown, of a garment constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the strips or tapes which can be interchangeably used as a belt and/or shoulder straps;

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the garment, looking toward the inner face of the front panel, through the upper portion of the front panel of the garment;

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the garment looking toward the rear panel showing the elastic strip and belt loops on the upper end of the rear panel of the garment;

FIG. 5 is a view showing one way of wearing the garment;

FIG. 6 is a view showing how the rear panel of the garment can be contracted by the use of a belt to bring this panel close to the body; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing how the front panel of the garment can be contracted to bring it close to the body at the front.

The garment is primarily composed of two panels, that shown at 1 being the front panel and that at the rear being indicated at 2. Each panel may be fabricated of one or more sections to impart the desired shape to the garment and the two panels are connected together by the side seams shown at 3. The upper end of the garment is intended to encircle the body above the bust line as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. The garment may be made in various lengths according to the desires of the individual, but is preferably made in a length to terminate above the knees. At the top edge and underside of the rear panel 2 is attached an elastic strip 5, which tends to retain the top of the garment elastically around the body of the wearer. 4 is facing of self or contrasting material which encloses fullness at top of front panel 1, tapered to join with 5 at 3.

Secured to the inside of the front panel 1, by the stitching 7, is a pair of shaped pockets 6 positioned to overlie the breasts of the wearer and, if necessary or desirable,

. 2 these pockets may be employed to contain breastpads 12. Slits 13 are provided in the back of the pockets to enable the pads to be inserted and to permit the pockets -to assume a concave form following the curvature of the breast-pads.

The garment may be worn in several ways, one of which is shown in FIG. 5, wherein it is shown as worn in a free-flowing or hanging condition without restraint. To lend attractiveness to the garment a rulfie 11, which encloses a narrow tape of cotton or horsehair allowing garment to stand out or away from the body, is provided at the bottom, secured by the seam 10. Also, a ruffle may be provided at the top, as indicated at 15, to lend fullness to the bust line.

The garment may be worn without shoulder straps, but if such straps are desired, use can be made of the strip member shown at 12a, which can be made of the same material as the body of the garment, or of a contrasting material. To support the strip at the rear of the garment loops 1-4 are secured over the elastic strip 5, and the strip after leaving the loops is brought forwardly over the shoulders and is threaded through two holes 8 centered in the front of the garment near the top for supporting the garment and permitting adjustment of the spacing between the pockets. The ends of the strip may then be tied together into a bow as seen in FIG. 5.

When it is desired to give shape to the rear panel, the garment may be worn as shown in FIG. 6. In this arrangement the strip 12a is used as a belt and is extended across the front of the body behind the front panel, and is drawn through the two slits 9 provided along the side seams 3. The strip emerges at the back of the garment where it can be tied into a bow and this will gather or contract the back panel, bringing it close to the body, leaving the front panel hanging free and unrestrained.

When it is desired to contract the front of the garment, while leaving the rear panel hang free, the strip 12a is inserted around the back of the wearer under the rear panel; is drawn through the slits 9 and tied at the front on the outside of the garment as shown in FIG. 7.

The garment may be worn in various other ways, may be decorated, trimmed or embellished, as required by the manufacturer or wearer.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and I do not wish to limit myself in any particular, except as I am limited by the appended claims, rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A garment for women comprising a chemise-type body, having front and rear upper body covering panels and having a circumferential elastic portion in its upper edge whereby said upper edge is caused to constrict to snugly engage the body of the wearer above the bust line, a pair of pad-receiving pockets disposed upon the inner side of the front panel of the body and attached across their tops to the upper edge portion of the body, said pockets being disposed upon opposite sides of the vertical median line of the body and each pocket comprising front and rear walls, said rear walls of the pockets being vertically slitted substantially from top to bottom thereof, pads of a diameter to permit them to be inserted into said pockets through said slits of said rear walls, and means positioned between the said pockets for supporting the garment on the wearer and for permitting adjustment of the spacing between the said pockets.

2. A garment for women comprising a chemise-type body, having front and rear upper body covering panels 3 4- and having a circumferential constricting means in its References Cited in the file of this patent upper edge whereby said upper edge is caused to constrict UNITED STATES PATENTS to snugly engage the body of the wearer above the bust line, a pair of pad-receiving pockets disposed upon the 647,154 PhllhPs 1900 inner side of the front panel of the body and attached 5 1,387,586 Bradford Aug 16, 1921 across their tops to the upper edge portion of the body, 1,497,685 Hoyfne June 1924 said pockets being disposed upon opposite sides of the 1,588,357 Guhtz June 81 1926 vertical median line of the body and each pocket corn- 1,711,128 Gale P 1929 prising front and rear walls, said rear walls of the pockets "1,866,081 Brown July 5, 1932 being vertically slitted substantially from top to bottom 10 1,903,403 f P 1933 thereof, pads of a diameter to permit them to be inserted 2,985,884 Wmston May 1961 into said pockets through said slits of said rear walls, and means positioned between the said pockets for sup- FOREIGN PATENTS porting the garment on the wearer and for permitting ad- 220,255 Germany Mar. 26, 1910 justrnent of the spacing between the said pockets. 15 4,756 Australia 1931 

